With southbound wait times of more than an hour serving as a fitting backdrop, B.C. and Washington State politicians met in Blaine Monday to discuss improving border delays at the Peace Arch and Pacific Highway crossings for the 2010 Olympic Games.

Naomi Yamamoto, B.C.’s minister of state for intergovernmental relations, joined U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire on a Secret Service-escorted, motorcade tour that included the Olympics Co-ordination Center in Bellingham.

U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen was also present to discuss how to increase passenger travel while maintaining border security.

Standing on top of a soon-to-be constructed I-5 overpass, Napolitano said that planning has included more lanes and more staffing to deal with traffic influxes.

“It should make for a smoother crossing, yet a more secure crossing,” she said.

“We want to make sure that we have good co-operation with our Canadian partners... I think it’s going to be a great and successful Games.”

The increased use of B.C.’s and Washington’s enhanced driver’s licences and greater leniency for NEXUS cardholders have also been discussed, Yamamoto added.

Enhanced licenses provide citizens with a less expensive alternative to a passport for travel to the U.S.

Since the program’s launch on May 1, there have been more than 9,000 issued in B.C.

“We don’t want to see a thickening up (of the border), we want to see it thinner,” said Yamamoto, adding that most of the travel between the U.S. and Canada is legitimate.

Larsen added there will be 10 booths for the Olympics.

The entire project, however – which consists of a new border port and I-5 northbound overpass – will not be completed until November, 2010.

“We don’t expect any border delays based on either the Olympics’ traffic volume or the construction,” said Mike Milne, public affairs officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Last year, B.C. completed a $285-million border infrastructure program to improve highway access through road widening and constructing new interchanges.

Kolby Solinsky

Black Press